Title: Cookiecutter Sharks: The Mysterious Pencil-Like Creatures That Attacked a Round-the-World Catamaran
By Marc Lallanilla
Published Sep. 7, 2023, 4:28 p.m. ET
What attacks nuclear submarines, glows in the dark, and looks like “a pencil with teeth”? It’s a cookiecutter shark, a little-known species that made headlines this week after swarming an inflatable catamaran attempting a round-the-world voyage.
The cookiecutter shark gets its name from its unique ability to take 2-inch round chunks out of much larger prey, earning it the nickname “vampiric shark.” Mistaking the catamaran for a whale, a school of cookiecutters decided to feast on the vessel, quickly putting an end to the ambitious voyage.
According to Prof. Jodie Rummer, a marine biologist at James Cook University in Australia, these creatures are fascinating. “They’re a really cool species of shark. This unfortunate incident has given us an opportunity to learn about them,” she said.
What makes cookiecutter sharks even stranger is that they don’t actually swallow their prey; they take little bite-size morsels out of the side of them. Additionally, they possess bioluminescence, meaning they glow in the dark.
Growing up to 20 inches long, cookiecutter sharks reside in deep waters, which explains why they don’t receive much attention or academic study. They primarily feed in the deep ocean during the day and near the surface at night, spending most of their lives in darkness.
Described as a parasitic species, cookiecutter sharks possess an “odd and somewhat frightening array of teeth” that they use to grab their prey and twist, biting a circular piece off. Associate Professor Daryl McPhee from Bond University compared their appearance to a “pencil with teeth.”
When it comes to their diet, cookiecutters aren’t picky eaters. They have been known to damage undersea cables and the sonar components of nuclear submarines. In the 1970s, several American subs were forced to return to base due to cookiecutter damage, rendering them effectively “blind.”
While cookiecutter sharks have been known to sample human flesh, real attacks on humans are rare. There have been reported attacks in Hawaii in 2011 and off Magnetic Island in Australia in 2017, but in both cases, the victims survived.
At night, when the cookiecutters are scavenging for food, their limited vision combined with the darkness makes them prone to mistaking objects like the inflatable catamaran for potential prey. This explains how a few small sharks were able to swamp a 30-foot vessel, causing multiple bites.
As researchers continue to study cookiecutter sharks, their unusual feeding habits and bioluminescence offer a glimpse into the mysterious depths of the ocean. While they may be peculiar and potentially a threat to submarines and inflatable watercraft, they remain an enigma worth exploring.